Rope

A rope is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength (i.e. it can be used for pulling, but not pushing). Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly constructed cord, line, string, and twine. (wikipdedia)


Reading that definition relate it to your relationships.  Beautiful.  God has intertwined us together.  We TOGETHER are rope, not made for pushing but pulling each other through and through.  We are thicker and stronger together.  God revealed this to me before Phil and I were married : )  Due to recent events it has reappeared in my mind.  Recent events, hm.  Well, let's see where do I begin....


What a month it has been for us Leitners.  Have I told you today that God is faithful? : ) Because He is.  It has been a month of visitors!  Our first visitors this month were Liz, Blake, and Kai (and Kamalani in Lizzie's tummy) Mokiao. Our second visitor, a tsunami.  Boy howdy, if Liz and Blake only knew the adventure we had before us!  Liz and I have always had a friendship full of adventure.  You see, life with Liz is so lovely.  She can make the simplest things so special.  I have learned so much through our friendship especially the numerous times we have lived with each other.  She is my sister in Christ and to me we are related.  I love her so dearly.  When she married Blake the first Hawaiian adventure began.  I should say when she started dating Blake, poor guy didn't know what he was in for, haha.  I'll never forget driving to Colorado Springs from Kansas City to Mole and Kristen's wedding with Blake in the back seat.  We sang the whole way.  Liz and I, not Blake.  Somewhere along the state line the keys got locked in the car, 11pm.  Anyways, always an adventure with us.  


They flew in and Iggy man and I drove to town to pick them up.  SO EXCITED!  It was quite relaxing b/c we could just hang out and catch up.  They've been here so many times together.  This is Blake's home, of course.  We decided to call it a night after a great day of catching up.  We were in bed maybe an hour when the sirens went off and police came (with a bull horn mind you) and evacuated us out of our house.  We live right on the water so we are a direct tsunami target...eek.  Now, tornadoes we are used to but common tsunami?  To make a long story short...not in my nature, sorry Phil...we stayed inland at a friends house.  We went to bed around 2 and woke about 7.  Oahu was fine.  Our house is fine. The kids were all fine.  Iggy slept the entire time, ha.  We all went home and got showered, visited with Aubrey (Clair) for a bit then it was time to head back to town.  The Mokiao's hopped a plane for the Big Island to see Blake's fam.  At least I got my Spruill for a little bit : )  Much needed time with my wonderful friends.  Did I mention Kai is a little stud???!!!!  He was great the whole time.


A few days after our tsunami scare my parents and Noah flew in.  YAY!  They were able to spend six glorious days with us.  There's just something about your family being near.  What a carefree fun week.  We took them to the North Shore and saw 15-20 foot waves!  We drove along the coastline down to Diamond Head and to Honolulu.  We spent a day at Waikiki.  We also had some very much appreciated trips to Wal Mart and Target : )  Iggy definitely got some grandparent spoiling.  Noah had some surfing lessons from Phil.  Daddy, also, took a turn surfing in Hawaii both short and long boards.  Our final day we hiked to a waterfall where they shot LOST.  Just as we didn't think we could go any further we started to hear the water rushing down the mountainside and the brisk cool air.  We ALL made it up.  Iggy strapped to me for most of the time then Daddy took over.  What a workout carrying an extra twenty pounds!  Makes me remember what pregnancy was like : )  Needless to say I cannot come up with the words of how great it was to have my family here with us.  My dad also hooked us up with wireless internet and Macgyver'd our tv to actually pick up around 20 channels for free!  So now we can update more often b/c we have internet!


As soon as my parents left Iggy started crawling, is cutting two teeth on the bottom row, and started saying Mama!  Thanks to facetime on our phones they've got to witness it : )  I also started training at a job, just 4-8 hours per week to help bring in some money for rent.  It's a very small jewelry/home decor local stuff called Sand People.  My parents also blessed Phil with a planer so he is working on some pieces of furniture to sell.  Please pray for our finances, family, and outreach here in Hawaii whenever you think of us.  We are doing well but still miss home so much.  What amazing friends and family we have, thank you God.  Keep you guys updated, lots of love!

Captivated

We've almost hit the two month mark since Phil first arrived here in Hawaii. Forgive me for my infrequent updating skills. We do not have Internet at the house yet. Sure I could take the laptop to Starbucks...I could even walk there from our house...but that is not much of an option with a six month old unless he's sleeping! This update is coming from my iPhone so please have grace on any typos.

We are entering March with so much hope. Our first praise is that we made rent! To be honest with you we barely made rent. We paid rent, bought formula and diapers and prayed. We tried to not become discouraged as the funds started to get smaller than we are ever used to. Phil, Iggy, and I went to this cheap Asian bakery place we love for breakfast one day when Phil decided to go talk to this woodshop owner behind the bakery. Phil met him through Craigslist. He's holding a planer for Phil. He told Phil of another local woodshop looking for another worker so he ran to that shop while Iggy man and I walked around the shopping center. Think Town Center Plaza but mini with all local beachy shops. Ig and I found a mini beachy Standard and the owner and I got to talking shop right away. She asked if I'd be looking for work. YES! Praise the Lord! Also, she's a Christian and hosts a home group and asked Phil to come lead worship sometime!

Phil got back from the other woodshop and got offered a job, too!!! So it looks like we will be both working part time alternating schedules to make sure we can watch Iggy of course. Our friends Tiff and Tati both offered to help, too. So it looks like we are going to make it ha! And not be working all the time so we can still focus on ministry. But hey, ministry is wherever not just our home church. The guys Phil works with are not Christians. So praise God for income. We've been pretty homesick this week. Liz, Blake, and Kai will be here with us the 10&11 and then my parents and Noah will be here the 14-21. Please pray for safe travels! We are so excited to show them around (&off). Love our friends and family coming to visit. We also LOVE mail, message me for our address :)

Please continue to pray for us showing Gods love and grace in Hawaii. Please pray for good health. This week I've been thanking God for an adventurous heart and my wonderful family. Please pray for my Uncle Gerald. He is riding a Harley from South America to Oklahoma! Check it out at www.mileswithamission.com. Supporting some really great causes like Heart to heart international and the Gresham scholarship (I received this during college!). Please pray for his teams safety and influence. Also, for my aunt Dianna and cousins, Gentry, Avery, Grayson, and Gerald Wayne as they are totally missing him and counting down the days until they're all together again. We are so blessed by such an amazing extended family. I'm glad we are all so close. Makes being out here that much harder. Miss you guys! Thank God for technology.

Also in the news, hooray for my sister-in-law,Leslie, who is now employed by Dave Ramsey living in Nashville. Micah follows in April. They desperately need to sell their house in Gardner, KS (for cheap!). Please continue to pray for our funds...scary being in the middle of the ocean on an island saying ok God we trust you! But worth it :-). I'll keep everyone posted on the jobs and the visits! Ill post pics, too, or just check my fbook page!